PVCC Puma Press: March 2003

On Feb. 12, PVCC hosted a high style and fashion show with fashions from Nigeria, Gaya and Africa, courtesy of African Suzzane's Affordable Fashions, located in Phoenix at 27th Ave and Indian School Rd.

Bright colored fabrics blended well with skin tones while the looseness of designs provided a cool approach to hot weather The fabrics used in the clothing, do not lose color when washed.

Outfits from Nigeria included a white cotton matching set for a man and woman, traditionally worn for weddings and parties. The gold embroidery is available for men only. The man is considered the Peacock of African societies. Villagewear is casual for Nigeria. According to Nigerian tradition, when ready for a husband, girls are sent to the market place wearing only beads from the waist down; then the men chase the women to catch their brides.

African women wear a white African lace outfit for weddings and parties. City women do not wear black unless at a funeral. Yellow Agarar symbolizes readiness for marriage or rites of passage.

Keynote speaker kicks off Black History Month at PVCC

By Joy Prue
News Editor

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	Photo by Robert Cain
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Paradise Valley Community College began the month of Black History celebrations with an opening ceremony sponsored by the African American Employee Association on Feb. 3.

The keynote speaker for the event was Supreme Court Judge Penny Willrich who delivered an inspirational speech on the importance of black history awareness. Willrich knows firsthand the challenges that were faced by segregation as she attended a segregated school from first to fifth grade.

In her speech Willrich depicted, "The work of teaching about black history lies with black people. We live in a society where black children are convinced they are inferior because we have neglected to tell them the stories about the accomplishments of black people. We are still standing today because we continue to search for freedom from inferiority complexes, humiliation and cultural degradation as a result of our lack of knowledge about ourselves and our past."

Willrich closed by saying, "when we reach a point of humanization of black people, we will not need a special month to celebrate, because every day will be a cause for celebration for every person of every nationality."

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	Enlightment — On Feb. 19, the band Enlightment filled the Student Union with Caribbean rhythms as part of PVCC's celebration of Black History month. For more on the month's festivities, see page 10.
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